Oak Park and River Forest police reports-Dec. 16-Jan. 1

Police arrested a 41-year-old man in the 1100 block of Clinton, the evening of Dec. 27, after a neighbor dispute in an alley got physical. Police said the man accused a neighbor of spitting on his car, which escalated into a verbal altercation. The arrestee told police he believed the victim wanted to fight so he struck the victim first. He was charged with battery and released after posting bond.

Robberies

An Oak Park resident told police that unknown offenders robbed him in the 1200 block of North Ridgeland Avenue between 11:30 p.m. and 2 a.m., Dec. 30-31. He said they approached him from behind and removed cash from his wallet. Loss was estimated at $500.

A clerk at BP Amoco in the 200 block of Madison Street told police an unknown man locked the entry door from the inside and approached him, demanding the door be unlocked. The clerk summoned police and the offender fled.

Theft

A woman told police a man removed the wallet from her purse at an establishment in the 900 block of Lake Street around 11 a.m., Dec. 28, and fled in an unknown direction. Estimated loss was $415.

Someone removed a silver iPhone from an unattended gym bag at the YMCA in the 200 block of South Marion Street, the afternoon of Dec. 29. Loss was estimated at $700.

Two juveniles were observed on video surveillance ransacking the pay-station box in the 700 block of North Boulevard around 4:20 a.m., Dec. 31. No loss was reported.

Store clerks at Ulta Beauty, 7231 Lake St., told River Forest police an offender removed $469 worth of cologne products from the store and fled with the merchandise on Dec. 18 around 8 p.m. Police found the offender's jacket nearby with one bottle of cologne.

River Forest police arrested a 65-year-old Palos Hills woman around 4 a.m., Dec. 22, after observing her car committing traffic violations near Chicago and Harlem avenues. She failed field sobriety tests and was found to be in possession of five bags of heroin weighing 3.8 grams. She was charged with DUI, drug possession and driving offenses.

A 19-year-old man from Chicago was arrested in the 300 block of South Cuyler Avenue after his vehicle struck a large paving stone around 10:30 p.m., Dec. 29, and he attempted to drive away. He was charged with not reporting the accident and driving with license suspended.

Take them down early

Christmas decoration lights were reportedly removed from the yard of a house in the 300 block of North Cuyler Avenue sometime overnight, Dec. 27-28. Police report an estimated loss of $120.

Double DUI

Two drivers involved in an auto accident in the 1100 block of Miller, Jan. 1, around 2:40 a.m., were both arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. A 37-year-old Oak Park man was charged with DUI, failure to give aid and improper lane usage, and a 30-year-old Chicago man was charged with DUI, failure to reduce speed, failure to report an accident after striking property and illegal transportation of liquor.

Burglaries

Someone removed copper piping from the air-conditioning unit of a building in the 400 block of Clinton Avenue in River Forest, Dec. 13-14.

Persons unknown entered a house in the 1100 block of Gunderson by means of a key, sometime between Dec. 24 and 27, and ransacked several bedrooms. Missing were an Xbox, an Xbox 360 and a Sony VX1000 digital camera. Total estimated loss was not reported.

Someone kicked open the front door of a house in the 1100 block of Wisconsin Avenue during the day, Dec. 28. Removed were an HP laptop, a Vizio 50-inch TV, various cellphones, jewelry and Christmas gifts. Estimated loss is $1,900.

Someone tried to kick in the front door of a residence in the 800 block of North Austin Boulevard, overnight Dec. 29-30, causing damage to the door and frame. No entry was gained.

Residents of the 400 block of Wisconsin Avenue found their front window screen cut open sometime overnight Dec. 29-30, but no entrance to the house was gained.

Garage burglaries

An open garage was burglarized, overnight Dec. 30-31, in the 700 block of Clinton Avenue.

Someone forced open a garage door in the 1100 block of South Lombard Avenue during the evening of Dec.30 and loaded up the silver 2003 Kia Sephia with various items from inside before removing the car and its contents. The vehicle was recovered in the 1200 block of South 57th Avenue in Cicero. Estimated loss is $5,600.

Residents in the 1000 block of Home Avenue surprised an unknown man in their garage around 4 p.m., Dec. 30, who had entered through an unlocked service door and moved items in the garage.

These items, obtained from the Oak Park and River Forest police departments, came from reports filed Dec. 16-Jan. 1 and represent a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Anyone named in these reports has only been charged with a crime and cases have not yet been adjudicated. We report the race of a suspect only when a serious crime has been committed, the suspect is still at large, and police have provided us with a detailed physical description of the suspect as they seek the public's help in making an arrest.